Burns, Robert Celebration of His Birthday
in Nebraska

The 150th anniversary of the birth of Scottish
poet Robert Burns (on January 25, 1759) was widely celebrated
in 1909 by Americans of Scottish descent. An Omaha celebration
was sponsored by the fraternal Order of Scottish Clans (OSC).
In conjunction with its annual concert and ball, members of Clan
Gordon No. 63, Omaha, sponsored additional activities reflecting
the literary heritage of Robert Burns and Scottish culture in
general.

The February 20, 1909, issue of The
Western Scot, published in Omaha by the OSC, reported that
the January 25 celebration included musical solos, dancing, piping,
and the awarding of a prize to the winner of a poetry contest
held in honor of Burns. "The pupils of Pipe Major Geo. W.
McDougall danced the Reel and Highland Fling. Martha Britton
danced the sword dance. Clansman Wm. H. Wallace, the gold medalist,
played some stirring highland airs on the pipes. He is always
sought after for a rendition of 'The Cock o' the North,' which
he played to piano accompaniment. As an encore he played a few
American airs.

"The $10 prize poem, competed for
by students of the Omaha High school, was then read by Past Chief
Wm. Kennedy. It was won by Miss Fredericka Swartzlander, who
came upon the stage, and received an ovasion [sic] of which any
one might be proud. The entire assembly rose to its feet and
cheered the maiden, the author of such an excellent poem on 'The
Mission of Burns.'"

The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln)
on January 26, 1909, noted of a Lincoln celebration that "125
representatives of the land of Bobbie Burns sat down to a Scotch
banquet, in which a genuine Scotch meal constituted the bill
of fare." The banquet, held at the Palace Hotel, included
Scotch barley broth, haggis, oatmeal cakes, wheat scones, currant
buns, and Scotch shortbread as well as such American favorites
as ice cream. "By each plate lay a sprig of heather received
only a few days ago direct from the hills of the County of Ayr,
where Bobbie Burns was born. . . .

"After the toasts, and the tables
had been cleared away, both Scottish and American dances followed,
and the grand finale was the singing by the entire company, with
hands clasped, 'Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot?'"